Cable connecter



`lune 4, 1935. W A BONNELL 2,003,676

CABLE CONNECTER Filed Jan. 27, 1931 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT omer: N

CABLE CONNECTER William A. Bonnell, New York, N. Y.

Application January 27, 1931, Serial No. 511,515

3 Claims. (Cl. 247-25) This invention relates to cable connecters for use in joining cables to electric box xtures such as outlet boxes, cable boxes, switch boxes and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved cable connecter of simple and rugged construction, having novel means to securely clamp a cable therein and for quickly and rigidly anchoring the cable connecte-r in an outlet box or other electrical xture.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably utilize but two elements, namely, the connecter body and a clamp pivotally positioned thereon to clamp the cable therein and anchor the con- -necterbody in the outlet box.

In the preferred form of my invention, the connecter body is provided with a projection at its lower end, to engage'the underside of the outlet box adjacent the knock-'out opening in which the connecter body is positioned.

The clamp is bent intermediate its length, the upper end being formed into a cable-clamping jaw. The clamp is further provided, adjacent the jaw with an aperture through which a screw or the like, whose head bears against the clamp, and whose stem threadedly engages the connecter body, loosely passes.

When the screw is threaded into the connecter body, the screw-head draws the clamping jaw toward the connecter body, thereby rmly clamping the cable in the connecter body, while the lower end of the clamp, due to the bent fulcrumlike structure thereof is moved outwardly and wedges against the edge of the knock-out opening in which the connecter is positioned, securely anchoring the connecter body in the outlet box.

rI'his and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinate described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and `in which:

Figure l represents a vertical sectional View of the preferred form of my invention, in an outlet box, also shown in section, and supporting a cable shown partly in section.

Figure 2 represents a top p-lan view, partly in section, taken on lines 2-2 of Figure l, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3a. represents a vertical sectional View taken on lines 3a 3a of Figure 2, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 represents a top plan View of the preferred form of my invention supporting a cable,

shown in section, and secured in an outlet box, shown fragmentarily.

Figure 4 represents a perspective View of the clamp used in the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 5 represents a side elevational viewroi the preferred form of my invention, showing the manner in which it is Iirst inserted intoV the outlet box, shown partly in section.

Figure 6 represents a View of a modied form` lo v of my invention similar tothe view of the preferred form of my invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 represents a top plan view of this modified form of my invention, supporting acable, shown in section, and secured in an outlet box, l5 shown fragmentarily. f

Figure 8 represents a perspective view of the clamp used in this modiiied form of my invention.

Figure 9 represents a top plan view partially in section of another form of my invention.

The preferred form of my invention, shown in Figures l, 3, 4 and 5 consists, essentially, of but two members, namely, the connecter body I having a bushing 2| at one end, provided with a circumferential flange 4 midway its height, a later- 25 ally extending projection 5 at a point on its circumference intermediate the ange 4, and the bushing end of the body I and a threaded aperture 3 at a diametrically opposite point, above the iiange 4 and the clamp 2, one end of which is angu- 30 larly bent and cut to provide a cable clamping jaw Ii, said clamp 2 being'further bent intermediate its length.

The clamp 2 is pivotally positioned on the ccnnecter body I by any suitable means, as by a 35 screw 'l passing through an aperture 8 (see Figure 4) in the clamp 2 and threadedly engaging the threaded aperture 3 of the connecter body I.

In using my invention, one of the knock-outs I0 of the outlet box II is removed in the conven- 40 tional manner, leaving a knock-out opening I2, in which the connecter body I, and clamp 2 are inserted, at an angle (see Figure 5), to bring the bevelled Aprojection 5 of the connecter body I into engagement with the edge of the outlet box opening I2, and the connecter body I is then brought down so that its circumferential flange 4 overlies the knock-out opening I2.

The head 9 of the screw 'l bears against the jaw end vof the clamp 2. Therefore, on further threading the screw '1 into the threaded aperture 3 of the connecter body I, the jaw end of, the clamp 2 will be drawn toward the connecter body I, causing the jaw 6 of the clamp to engage with and rigidly secure the cable I3 against the inner 55 part of the connecter, the lower end of the armor I3 of the cable resting on the bushing 2| in the connecter body I. As the clamp 2 is angularly bent intermediate its length, this threading of the screw 'I causes the clamp to act as a fulcrum, wedging the bushing end of the clamp against the edge of the knock-out opening I2, securely anchoring the connecter body I therein.

In the modified form of my invention, shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8, the cableclamping jaw of the clamp, consists of two parallel, spaced members III-I4, preferably formed integral with and at right angles to the clamp 2, which are adapted to pass through spaced parallel slots ifi-I5 in the connecter body I'; in its other feature this form of my invention corresponds with the preferred form of invention. Y

My improved cable connecter is used as follows:

The connecter body I and clamp 2 are inserted in the outlet box opening vI2 at an angle (see Figure 5) sothat the lateral projection 5 of the.

connecter body I will be slid into the outlet box, then the connecter body I is brought down so that its flange II overlies the opening I2 A(see Figures 3 and 7), and the screw I isthreaded into the threaded aperture 3 of the connecter body I.

The connecter body I is rigidly secured in the outlet box by the engagement of the lateral projection 5 with the edge of the knock-out opening I2 and the wedging of the bushing end of the clamp 2 against the opposite edge of the opening I2 at an angle (see Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6) To remove the cable fromfthe connecter body it is merely necessary to turn the screw 'I to draw the screw head 8 away from the clamp 2. The clamp 2 may then be moved back, carrying the cable clamping jaw 6 away from the cable I3, so that the latter may be readily withdrawn.

The clamp is bent angularly, intermediate its length, so that outward movement of the jaw end of the clamp V2 will cause the other end of the clamp to be drawn forward toward the connecter body I, parallel with the edge of the opening I2, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3a, so that the .connecter body I and clamp 2 may be withdrawn from the outlet box opening I2 at the angle in which they are first inserted into the said opening (see Figure 5).

It will be noted that, as the clamp 2 is made preferably of flat stock and the knock-out opening I2 is circular, the edges of the clamp 2 engagethe knock-out opening I2, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3a, and the bent part of the clamp 2 has tangential engagement with theside of the connecter body I, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6.

If desired, the connecter body I may be iiattened-or recessed at the point at which it is enby the bent part of the clamp 2 so that a wider bearing surface will be provided, and the ciamp 2 may be curved or otherwisebent at its lower end, to wedge against the edge of the knock-out opening ,I2l at 'diiferent points= In the form of my invention shown in Figure v9, the connecter body I' is provided with a vertical recess Il, the lower end of which is preferably inwardly inclined, so that the clamp 2 may be heid therein without completely lling the saine, when the connecter body I and clamp 2 are'iirst inserted into the conventional knock-out opening I2. This arrangement enables the use of standard connecter bodies of a diameter slightly Tous connecter bodies being provided with the vertical recess I1.

than that of the knock-out opening I2', the

To adapt my improved cable connecter for use i in connection with cables of various diameters, the cable-clamping jaw 6 of the clamp 2 may be varied in length to accommodate cable of various diameters or the clamp 2 may be weakened to enable it to be drawn further forwardly to carry the cable-clamping jaw 6 into clamping relation with cables of various diameters, after the clamp 2 has been drawn to the position in which it has vedging engagement with the edge of the knockout opening I2. The jaw end of the clamp 2 may be weakened in any convenient manner, as by providing it with notches I6 as shown in Figure 8; orby making it of material of less thickness than that of the other end thereof.

The clamp 2 may be provided with laterally extending stops I8 (see Figures 2 and 4) to engage with the underside of the outlet box adjacent the knock-out opening I2, to prevent withdrawal of the connecter body and clamp.

It will be noted that in using my improved cable connecter the screw 'I does not engage the cable, so that danger of injury to the cable from this source is eliminated, and that the cable may be readily inserted in and removed from the connecter body before or after the latter is inserted into the outlet box opening.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l.V A cable connecter comprising a hollow body having oppositey ends and a clamp member fulcrumed to said body, said clamp member havingroppositely directed ends, one of said ends being angularly disposed to provide a jaw extending over an end of the hollow body, the other end of said clamp member being angularly directed for fulcrum engagement with the edge of an outlet box opening to secure `the hollow body therein.

2. A cable connecter comprising a hollow body having opposite ends, said body having a threaded portion, a clamp member, and a screw freely passing through said clamp member and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the body to secure the clamp member thereto, said clamp member having oppositely directed ends, one of said ends being angularly disposed to provide a jaw extending over an end of the hollow body, the other end of said clamp member being angularly directed for fulcrum engagement with the edge of an outlet box opening to secure the hollow body therein.

3. A cable connecter comprising a hollow body having opposite ends, and a clamp member fulcrumed to said body, said clamp member having oppositely directed ends, and being provided with laterally extending stops intermediate its ends, whereby, when the cable connecter is positioned in an outlet box opening with the laterally extending stops below the opening, the clamp member may be fulcrumed on the hollow body so that the laterally extending stops will be brought into engagement with the underside of the edge of the outlet box opening to secure the body therein.

WILLIAM A. BONNELL. 

